Help russian tortiose or ball python

i really want a ball python but i also want a russian tortoise AHHH ! i can't choose:rolleye2: i live in a apartment so i would be more to ball python but tortoise are so cute but ball python are such good lap snakes tell me your reason and what animal should i buy i done 3 month of research on both too btw

I currently have several ball pythons and a tortoise, and I would say go with the snake! Tortoises are much higher maintenance, have stricter lighting requirements, eat more often, etc. Harder to go away for a weekend/short vacation with a tortoise than it is with a snake, which I think is something important to consider. That being said, tortoises are pretty awesome and much more interactive!

Good luck with your decision, really can't go wrong either way :)

We had a very similar question and we got the snake because of ease of care as well. And I am so glad we did the son taakes great care of the snake and we can still go camping ETC on the weekend no worries:D

I'm sorry to say this, but I have to suggest to get both.

If you get one or the other, you will have given in to the world of herps, and will end up with both anyways.

Get the snake, if only because you can go on vacation and not worry about it. I frequently am away from home for up to a week, and all i do if clean out my bps water bowl, feed her a rat, and leave her be; come back a week later and shes just chillin in her hide going "sup".

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I also wanted a tortoise and a BP and had a hard time deciding between the two. I eventually went with the BP and I don't regret it one bit. I never thought I would get attached to a snake, but now he is my little buddy haha. Once you get everything set up tank/temp/humidity/hide/feeding/ ect wise they are pretty easy to take care of. Snakes are also easier to hold than tortoises are. Plus it's a lot more fun watching them eat!

We used to have a Russian tortoise when we lived in our apartment. She had a much larger enclosure that most snakes need, needed fresh veggies/salad everyday, UVB lamp, more frequent cleaning, etc. We rehomed her to a family that was looking for one. It's not that we didn't like her, or didn't take good care of her, but that she was really more work than we had anticipated. (Even after doing our research.)

I'm much happier with my little hognose. Even when we select our first ball (hopefully soon!) the two together are less work than one tortoise!

Theresa in Indy
1.0 western hognose, 0.0.1 A. versicolor, 1.0 leo

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ball python are such good lap snakes

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Actually they are not, BP are easily prone to stress and only tolerate to be handled not what I would call a "lap snake".

Snakes "tolerate" being handled. I really don't think they actually enjoy it either.